The Hindu Business Line : Jeera exports may gain on lower Syrian crop

Kochi, Jan. 1 Drop in jeera (cumin) output in other producing countries is likely to push up its exports during the current fiscal. Currently, jeera shown a decline during April – November 2007 compared with the corresponding period last year.

The shipments of jeera during April–November 2007 stood at 16,250 tonnes valued at Rs 172.75 crore against 20,444 tonnes worth Rs 153.16 crore. Drop in supply has pushed up the unit value realisation this year to Rs 106.31 a kg from Rs 74.92 a kg last year.

Jeera production in Syria, one of the major producer and exporter of the commodity in the world, is reported to be less by around 30 per cent because of crop loss due to rains and that in turn would pave way for increase in exports in the coming months, industry sources told Business Line.

On the other hand, shortfall in estimated output in the country coupled with the potential increase in exports in the coming months could push up its prices in the domestic market, they claimed.

Last fiscal also witnessed a sharp fall in world supply of jeera and as a result the Indian exports of the commodity for the first time in its history touched 26,000 tonnes, valued at Rs 201.50 crore.

India is the largest producer, exporter and consumer of jeera which is mainly used as spice all over the world.

In India, jeera grows abundantly in the mild, equable climate of Gujarat and Rajasthan where rich well-drained, sandy, loamy soil and the sunny, conducive environment is available. They contribute almost 90 per cent of total production in the country. Rajasthan is the largest producer of jeera seeds contributing about 50-55 per cent of the total production. The domestic market absorbs almost 90 per cent of the production. The annual domestic demand is about 20 lakh bags i.e., about 1.1 lakh tonnes.

Total production dwindles between 1.5 tonnes and 2 lakh tonnes. The highest-ever production was in 2001-02 when it touched 2.06 tonnes from a total area of 5.26 lakh hectares, market sources said. Other producing countries include those in North Africa, Iran, Indonesia, China, Turkey and Syria.

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